Stereotype plate finishing and cooling machine



Aug. 8, 1939. H, A w w 2,168,548

STEREOTYP-E PLATE FINISHING AND COOLING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 24, 1934 10 Sheeis-Sheet 1 WM wow Aug. 8, 1939. H. A. w. wooD STEREOTYPE PLATE FINISHING AND COOLING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 24, 1934 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZZ/Z 47c3e7500f LAW/=42,

H. A. w. WOOD 2,168,548

10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Nov. 24, 1934 Aug. 8, 1939.

STEREOTYPE'PLATE FINISHING AND COOLING MACHINE Aug. 8, 1939.

H. A. W. WOOD STEREOTYPE PLATE FINISHING AND COOLING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Nov. 24, 1934 Aug. 8, 1939. H, A. w. WOOD STEREOTYPE PLATE FINISHING AND COOLING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Nov. 24, 1934 m, we I A- B Aug. 8, 1939. H A. w. WOOD STEREOTYPE PLATE FINISHING AND COOLING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 24, 1934 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 Aug. 8, 1939. H. A w. WOOD STEREOTYPE PLATE FINISHING AND COOLING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 24, 1954 10 et 3 if Y ZN 2 fldewrr We/7/y4 22;): 740i film W@ drlflllrl MACHINE Aug. 8, 1939. H. A, w. woOD STEREOTYPE PLATE FINISHING AND COOLING Original Filed Nov. 24, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 I l k.

- Aug. 8, 1939.

H. A. w. wooo 2,168,548

STEREOTYPE PLATE FINISHING AND COOLING MACHINE I [Original Filed Nov. 24, 1934 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 Illlllll Patented Aug. 8, 1939 Nina TATES PATENT OFFICE STEREOTYPE PLATE FINISHING AND COOL- ING MACHINE Henry A. Wise Wood, New York, N. Y., assignor to Wood Newspaper Machinery Corporation. New York, N. Y., a corporation of Virginia Application November 24, 1934, Serial No. 754,579 Renewed July 18, 1938 9 Claims.

The principal objects of this invention are to I provide an improved means and method for introducing a stereotype plate into a shaving or cooling device by distorting it in such a way as 5 to prevent the rubbing of the type surface against the arch; to provide improved means for clamp- I ing the plate in the arch; to provide a method of i finishing and cooling the plate which consists essentially in properly clamping the plate first in a 10 shaving arch and then in a cooling arch and performing the desired operation on the plate while it is firmly held therein so that all the strains of cooling will be resisted by a firm pressure, thus giving the finished and cooled plate a true and II accurate shape; to provide a new and useful means for moving the plate from a loading platform to the shaving arch, from the shaving arch to the cooling arch, and from the cooling arch to the delivery stand; to provide means for pinch- 20 ing the edges of the plate together, lifting it up into either arch and then releasing the pinch on the bottom edges; to provide the pinching means in such form that it will pinch the plate inits lowered position and release it in the arch g5 and vice versa; to provide means for lifting the plate into the shaving arch by a motion which insures that the plate will come firmly up against the arch before the edges previously pinched are released; to provide means whereby, as each plate 80 is brought underneath the cooling arch it is i effectively clamped therein, cooled, and disi charged before the next plate arrives, and to provide for pushing the plate off the conveyor to deliver the plate to the means for carrying 36 the plate off out of the machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which 40 Fig. 1 is a longitudinal central cross sectional view of a plate finishing and cooling machine constructed in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2 is an end view thereof, taken in the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the plate receiving arch and associatedparts, as shown in Fig. 2; I Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the same line as Fig. 1 showing the loading platform and shaving m arch;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of a stop carried by the conveyor for properly loading the plate beneath the shaving arch;

Fig. 6 is a detail side elevation of the receiving 6| platform;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the receiving platform and conveyor bar; 1

Fig. 8 is a similar view of the conveyor and certain associated details;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the end of the conveyor bar and the delivery end of the conveyor bar and associated parts;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line lll-l0 of Fig. 8; i

Fig. 11 is a cross "section on the line ll--li of Fig. 1, showing the shaving operation and showing only one of two cams located on the same axis;

Fig. 12 is a similar view showing the other cam, but in the same position;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view of one end of the shaving arch showing the position of the pincher bar;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the cooling arch on the line ll-ll of Fig. 1;

Fig. 15;.is a similar view showing the parts in a different position;"

Fig. 16 is an end view at the cooling end of the machine. as indicated by the arrow IS in Fig.1, and

Fig. 17 is an enlarged sectional view of the cooling end of the machine on'the same plane as Fig. 1.

The finishing of stereotype printing plates for newspaper presses must be done not only expeditiously but with extreme accuracy. 1 After a stereotypeprinting plate is cast,. it is the usual practice to shave the ribs on the concave side of the plate and thereafter cool the plate before sending it to the press. Reasonably satisfactory equipment is available in the present market for'shaving the plates. There is, however, no suitable equipment available for properly cooling the plates and holding them in proper shape so that they will be true when cooled. By this invention I provide means for holding the plate while it is being cooled so that it cannot warp out of shape in the cooling action and also include effective means for clamping the plate in the arch.

In this invention the shaved plate is clamped between two concentric surfaces and a cooling medium is applied to both sides of the plate while it is firmly held. In this way all the strains produced by cooling are resisted by a firm pressure so as to leave the finished and cooled plate in its true shape.

In theform shown, a box-like frame 1 constitutes the principal framework of the machine on which are bolted a shaving arch 2 and a cooling arch 3. Through a motor support bracket 4, secured to the frame I. a motor 5 is mounted. A pinion 6 is mounted on the shaft' of the motor armature and meshes with a gear I which is secured to a cross shaft 8. The latter is mounted by ball bearings l and ID in the frame I and secured therein by seals II and I2. The right hand end of the cross shaft 8, as viewed in Fig. 2, carries a barring hub I2 which may be used to rotate the mechanism manually. The central part of the cross shaft l mounts a worm II firmly secured thereto which meshes with a worm wheel I4 which is concentrically mounted on the end of, and keyed to, a sleeve IS, the latter being rotatably carried on a shaft It. The finished outer surface of the sleeve II cooperates with a bearing H which forms part of the machine frame I. A shear pin hub II is keyed to the shaft I! by a key I! and cooperates with the sleeve II through a shear pin 20. This provides a safety device in case of unusual strain in the machine so that the shear pin 2| may be broken without causing damage.

The left hand end of the shaft I6, as viewed in Fig. 1, has a heavy pinion 2I mounted thereon which meshes on the one side with a gear 22 carried by a knife bar shaft 23 and on the other with a'gear 24 secured to the end of a shaft 25. The shaft 2| serves as the principal drive shaft for operating the different mechanisms in their proper sequence while the knife bar shaft 23 operates the duplex knife 33- -34 for finishing off the ribs on the concave side of the plate. The knife bar shaft 22 is mounted in preloaded bearings 26 by properly bored holes in the frame I and secured therein by caps 28 and 29 respectively. In order to provide a sturdy construction, the two ends of the knife bar shaft 23 preferably constitute stubs of a solid casting,

which is shown as a knife bar so carrying two projections II and 32 on which are mounted knives 22 and 24 by bolts 30 and provided with the customary adjusting screws 35.

It will be noted that the shaving arch 2 and cooling arch I are made of a larger diameter than is necessary to take the ordinary sized plate and that water jacketed liners, or inside arches, and 31 are provided to give the proper inside dimension. This has its utility not only in providing a separate water jacket but it also permits construction of a standard machine with the capability of easily changing the liners for others to accommodate different sized plates. A chip box fits in an opening in the front end of the frame I and provides a container for receiving the chips from the shaving knives 33 and I4.

Running essentially the full length of both arches and mounted on the frame I by suitabe brackets are shafts 39, 40, 4| and 42 providing support for mechanism which pinches the plate in as it is lifted into the arch and mounting the mechanism which lifts the two ends of the plate in each of the arches. It is to be understood that a similar mechanism operates on the plate when it is lifted into the cooling arch as is used when the plate is lifted into the shaving arch. 'Ihis improved mechanism has for its purpose the provision of a motion which insures the plates being set firmly up against the arch before the pinched edges are released, thereby preventing any burnishing of the type as is present in machines now on the market. This is accomplished by pinching the opposite straight edges of the plate together, lifting it up, and

then releasing the pinch on the bottom edges. The lifting and pinching is performed by notched bars 43 and 44, projections on which supplement notches in conveyor bars 45 and 46 respectively. The pincher bar 43 has, in the present embodiment, two arms integral therewith which are pivotally mounted on studs 41 carried on the free ends of arms 48, the arms 48 being secured to the shaft 39. Also secured to the shaft II is an arm 4| which carries a poppet 50 rotatably secured thereto which is penetrated by a threaded rod BI carrying jam nuts 52. The threaded rod SI forms part of a link 52, the other end of which is pivotally secured to a lever 54 which is pivoted on the shaft H and the other end of which is pivoted on a cam yoke 55. The cam yoke II rotatably mounts a cam roller 66 which cooperates with a cam path 51 in a cam 5| fixed to the shaft 85. The cam yoke. has a machined inner oblong surface 59 cooperating with a hub 80 of the cam 58 to thereby guide and locate the cam yoke 55. At the left hand end of the cam yoke 55, as viewed in Fig. 11, a lever 6I is pivotally connected to the yoke 55, said lever being pivoted on the shaft 42. The other arm 2 of the lever GI is pivotally connected to a link I, the outer end of which is in the form of a threaded rod 64 carrying jam nuts 65 and piercing a poppet 66 carried on the' end of an arm 61'. The arm 61 is secured to the shaft 40 which shaft also mounts arms 61, the free ends of which are pivotally connected by studs 68 to the pincher bar 44. Thus, with any rotation of the cam II .such that the cam roller 56 is moved, motion will be imparted through the two mechanisms just described to move both pincher bars 43 and 44 toward or away from the plate. This mechanism may, therefore, be used to pinch the plate in its lowered position and release it in the arch and also the reverse; viz, pinching the plate before it is moved down and releasing it in its lowered position. Since pincher bars 43 and 44 are pivoted at points 41 and 68 it is necessary to guide the outer ends to obtain a definite practicable motion. Two toggle bars 69 are pivotally connected by studs III to the pincher bar 42. Toggle bars 69 penetrate poppets II and mount springs 12 and lock nuts I3. The poppets II are pivotally mounted in projections on the arm 14 which is secured to the shaft 4I. Arms 15 and 16 are secured respectively to the shafts H and 42 and pivotally attached to the two ends of a second cam yoke 11. The cam yoke 11 rotatably mounts a cam roller 18 which cooperates with a cam path 19 in a cam which latter is secured to the cam 58. An inner finished oblong surface 8| of the cam yoke 11 cooperates with a second hub 02 of the cam 58, thereby guiding and locating the cam yoke 11 and permitting an oscillatory motion to be imparted to the shafts H and 42 from the cam 80. It is apparent that the toggle links 69 may be used to lift and lower the pincher bar 43. A similar arrangement lifts and lowers the pincher bar 44. This constitutes the mechanism necessary for pinching the straight edges of the plate together, lifting it in the arch, releasing it and after the plate is finished pinching it together, lowering it and releasing it. It is to be understood that a similar pinching and lifting arrangement preferably is used in the cooling arch 3 by utilization of the motion already provided in shafts 39 and 40, H and 42 without duplicating the cams and link mechanism just described.

It will be noted that the shaft 25 is held in greases position endwise by the gear 23 and a coltar 63. The left hand end of the shaft 25, as viewed in Fig. l, is supported by a bushing M in the frame l and is bored to receive the shaft 135. The shaft 65 is mounted in a bushing 85 which latter is carried in the frame l and in a removable bearing til also carried in the frame i, with the left hand end of said shaft, as viewed in Fig. i, being supported by a cover to. A key 59 serves to secure the cam .58 to the shaft 85 and also angularly fixes that shaft to the shaft 25 from which it derives its rotary motion.

A segment arm 90 is pivoted on the shaft 85 by bushings 9| and 92 and is provided with a pair of bifurcated projections 93 and 94 which, through studs 95 and 96, pivotally mount one end of each of a pair of lift rods 91 and 98 respectively for the cooling saddle III. Each of these lift rods pierces a non-rotatable shaft 99 and is provided with a shoulder I for bearing against one end of a spring IOI, the other end of which presses against a washer I02. A washer I03 is provided to bear against the top side of the shaft 99 and a check nut I04 is threadedly secured one each on the ends of the lift rods 9'! and 98. The shaft 99 is mounted in a bracket I which has a downwardly extending yoke I06 for cooperation with a finished surface I01 ofthe segment arm 90. The outer ends of the shaft 99 mount rollers I08 and I09 which cooperate with vertical slots carried respectively in the cap 29 and a stop support IIO. A cooling saddle III is securely mounted on the bracket I05 and carries a water jacket chamber H2 and spray holes II3 which may be used to place a liquid cooling medium on the plate P while it is locked in the cooling arch 3. The liner 31, which is secured in the cooling arch 3, also carries a water jacket chamber H4 and spray holes II5 which may be used to place a liquid cooling medium on the convex surface of the plate P. These cooling mediums may be applied to theplate P simultaneously or independently as desired. It is evident that in moving the saddle III from the position shown in Fig. to that shown in Fig. 14 the saddle will describe a vertical course neatly fitting in the concave side of plate P. This is insured through the yoke-like projection I06 cooperating with the surface I01 and the rollers I08 and I09 traveling in vertical slots.

It is apparent that the plate P may be placed in the arch 3 by the pinching and lifting mechanism described above after which the saddle III may be forced against the concave side of the plate under the pressure of the springs IM and firmly held there while being cooled. The lifting of the saddle I I I may be accomplished through the mechanism just described in cooperation with teeth II6 carried by the segment arm 90 cooperating with a segment III secured to a shaft H8. The shaft H8 is mounted by bushings in the frame I and an end bracket H9 and carries an arm I secured to its left hand end as viewed .in Fig. l. The free end of the arm I20 is pivotally secured by a stud I2I to a yoke arm I22. On the arm I22 is rotatably mounted a cam roller I23 cooperating with a cam I24 securely mounted on a barrel cam I25 which latter is secured to and rotates with the shaft 85. The barrel cam I25 has a hub I26 finished to cooperate with a yoke I21 of the arm I22. It guides the motion of that arm in conjunction with that imparted by the cam I24. It is apparent that the cam I24 may be so designed as to oscillate thesegment II! and impart a lifting and lowering motion to the saddle HI so that, as each plate is brought underneath the cooling arch 3. it is.

clamped therein, cooled and discharged before the next plate arrives. A skirt 1721 is secured to the bracket I 05 which serves to protect the working mechanism from a cooling medium, such as water, which courses down the outside of said skirt and may be led away by a drain pipe attached to an outlet I28. A stud I30 carried in the cover 89 pivotally mounts a cam segment I3I on which is rotatably carried a cam roller I32 for cooperating with a slot I29 of the barrel cam I25. Meshing with'the teeth of the cam segment I3I is a pinion I33 integral with a gear I34 which latter meshes with a gear I35. Gears I33-I34 and gear I35 are mounted, the former by a stud I36, the latter by a shaft I31 extending transverseiy across the machine and to which the gear I35 is secured. The gear I35 and a collar I38 serve to prevent end motion of the shaft I31. Secured to the shaft I31 are pinions I39 and I40 which mesh with rack teeth carried on the bottoms of the conveyor bars and respectively. Since the barrel cam I25 is secured to the shaft 85 the cam slot I29 may be so designed as to cooperate with the mechanism just described and move the conveyor bars 45 and 46 longitudinally to properly convey the plates from the loading pusition to the shaving arch, from the shaving arch to the coolingarch and from the cooling arch to the delivery end of the machine.

As shown in Fig. 9, when the plate P is moved to the delivery end of the finishing machine a spring-seated stop I is depressed as the plate goes by and serves to push the plate off conveyor bars 45 and 46 as they are returned and thereby delivers the plate to a set of inclined rollers I42 which may be used to carry the plate off to the press room by gravity. In Fig. 4 the right hand ends of conveyor bars 45 and 46 carry each a stop I43 pivoted thereon and backed up by a spring I44 to prevent bouncing as this stop comes in contact with the plate P to move it underneath the shaving arch. I

Fig. 5 demonstrates the manner in which these stops pivot under the plate on the receiving platform as the bars go to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1.

Mounted on the receiving platform I48 are a series of supports I45 spring-seated in a clockwise direction as shown in Fig. '7. These projections tend to bridge the slot in which the conveyor bars ride. It will be seen in Fig. 8, however, that as the conveyor bar 45 travels to the right it presses the projections I45 aside to permit the plate P to rest down on the conveyor bar 45. This is shown in Fig. 7. Thus the plate is supported by projections I45 until such time as the conveyor bars travel beneath the plate and receive it ready for motion underneath the shaving arch. Fig. 7 shows the projections I45 when the conveyor bars 45 and 46 areat their extreme right hand position.

Figs. 6 and 10 show the assembly of this mechanism with the springs I46 attached each at one end to the receiving platform I48 and at the other end to an arm I4'I. They tend to rotate the projections I45 in a clockwise direction. A similar but opposite hand arrangement is provided to serve the conveyor bar 46. v

It will be seen that by this invention means is provided for conveying a comparatively thin plate into a shaving arch which fits the plate, for clamping'it in the arch rigidly and for cooling the plate simultaneously with the finishing of its surface. Also means is provided for automatically conveying the plate out of the shaving arch intothe cooling arch and cooling it on both sides in a positively clamped position between two concentric surfaces that fit the plate so that the cooling of both sides of the plate, while firmly held, will not result in the distortion of the plate by cooling because all the strains of cooling are resisted by a firm pressure. the plate comes out finished and cooled in a true shape. This involves a newand useful means for moving the plate from the loading platform to the shaving arch, fromthe shaving arch to the cooling arch, and from the cooling arch to the delivery stand. The plate is prevented from bouncing when the conveying means comes into contact with the plate for starting it through the machine. Also, provision is made for accom plishing the above mentioned purposes by pinching the straight edges of the plate toward each other and releasing them after the plate is nested in the arch, thus preventing the burnishing of the type, which is an ordinary fault of the machines now on the market. The sequence of operations is as follows:

The straight edges of the plate are pinched in its lowered position, the plate is raised and then the pinching means is released. The plate is again pinched before it is moved down, lowered,

and then released. All these operations are auto-- matic after the plate is placed on the loading table.

This invention involves the above described machine as well as the method of shaving and cooling cast plates.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. In a stereotype plate cooling machine, the combination of an arch having an internal configuration for fitting the exterior of a shaved printing plate, a saddle in the arch having an outer surface for fitting the interior of the shaved printing plate, means for moving the plate between the saddle and arch longitudinally, means for then contracting the plate by moving its opposite edges toward each other, means for moving the saddle radially fully into the arch to clamp the plate thereagainst, means for cooling the plate, means for withdrawing the saddle, means for again operating the contracting means to contract the plate, and means for moving the plate out of the arch.

2. In a stereotype plate cooling machine, the combination of an arch having an internal configuration for fitting the exterior of a shaved printing plate, a saddle in the arch having an outer surface for fitting the entire interior of the shaved printing plate, means for contracting the plate by moving its opposite edges toward each other, means for then moving the plate radially to a seat in the arch, means for then releasing the edges of the plate, means for finally moving the saddle fully into the arch to clamp the plate thereagainst, and means for cooling the plate.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of an arch for receiving stereotype printing plates, levers at the sides of the arch having surfaces for supporting the straight edges of the plate and having surfaces for engaging the sides of said straight edges, pivots on which said levers are mounted, means for swinging the levers on said pivots inwardly to force the straight edges of the plate toward each other, each lever being Thus mounted to swing on another axis, and means for swinging the levers on the second axis in a direction to move their supporting surfaces in a radial direction toward the arch and seat the plate therein while in contracted condition. 5

4. In a device for manipulating the edge of a stereotype printing plate, the combination with an arch for receiving a printing plate of a shaft at the side of the arch having an arm thereon, a camfor oscillating said shaft, a member pivoted to said arm, a pivot carried by said member, a lever mounted to swing on the said pivot andhaving a surface for supporting the edge of the printing plate in the arch and another surface for engaging the side of said edge, and means for moving said lever to cause the latter surface to force the edge of the plate inwardly.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of an arch for receiving a stereotype printing plate, levers on each side of the arch, said levers having surfaces for supporting the straight edges of the plate and being provided with projecting surfaces adapted to engage the sides of said straight edges of the plate, means for moving said levers inwardly to contract the plate, means for moving said levers to force the plate into the arch in its contracted condition, a saddle within the arch, and means for forcing the saddle into the arch to firmly clamp the plate therein.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of an arch fitting the outside surface oi a curved printing plate, means for contracting the plate at its straight edges, means for moving the plate in its contracted condition into 3 the arch, means for shaving the interior of the plate, means for again contracting the plate, means for withdrawing the plate from the arch, a second arch having a concave surface for fitting the printing plate, means for moving the plate from the first arch to the second arch, means for contracting the plate after it is moved to the second arch, means for moving the plate into the second arch, means for cooling the plate in the second arch, means for again contracting the plate, and means for moving the plate from the second arch.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination of an arch fitting the outside surface of a curved printing plate, means for contracting the plate at its straight edges, means for moving the plate in its contracted condition into the arch, means for shaving the interior of the plate, means for preliminarily cooling the plate while it is being shaved, means for again contracting the plate, means for withdrawing the plate fromthe arch, a second arch having a concave surface for fitting the plate, means for moving the plate from the first arch to the second arch, means for contracting the plate after it is moved to the second arch, means for moving the plate into the second arch, means for cooling the plate in the second arch, means for again contracting the plate, and means for moving the plate from the second arch.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination of an arch fitting the outside surface of a curved printing plate, means for contracting the plate at its straight edges, means for moving the plate in its contracted condition into the arch, means for shaving the interior of the plate, means for again contracting the plate, means for withdrawing the plate from the arch, a second arch having a concave surface for fitting the printing plate, means for moving the plate from I the first arch to the second arch, means for contracting the plate after it is moved to the second arch, means for moving the plate into the second arch, means for cooling the plate in the second arch, means for againv contracting the plate, a shaft, and means operated by the shaft for actuating all of the contracting means.

9. In a machine for finishing and cooling stereotype printing plates, the combination with a loading platform on which the plates are adapted to be placed, resting on their straight edges, said plat form having a pair of grooves along it, a conveyor bar in each groove, a series of pivoted supports along the grooves projecting into them, means for yieldingiy holding the supports over the grooves to support the edges of the plate above the conveyor bar, means on the conveyor bars for engaging the rear edge of a plate and moving the same along with the conveyor bars, and means for reciprocating said conveyor bars to move the plates forward at each forward motion thereof. 10

HENRY A. WISE WOOD. 

